MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: Fans flood the track after the race for the podium ceremony during the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
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Formula 1’s global growth has increased, especially in the United States. For those who have thought about attending a race, here’s what one might expect heading into the Las Vegas Grand Prix, set to go green on Saturday night (11 pm ET start).
What Should Fans Expect When Attending a Grand Prix for the First Time?
If you’re into eye-popping speed and sound, then Formula 1 is your thing. While not as high-pitched as the days of V-10 or V-12 engines, racing is loud. The drivers are rock stars and the teams see fans as passionate about them as you can get. The colors, be it Ferrari red, or McLaren papaya, is seen everywhere. If you travel internationally, flags and signs will abound.
For those who have been to Las Vegas before, the first thing to expect is the unexpected. With the track circuit running down the Strip, East Harmon, and elsewhere, getting around by car can be an adventure, especially after the circuit closes. To address this, there are numerous pedestrian bridges that crisscross the circuit. If you’re thinking of getting a hotel off the Strip and walking around to watch the race, think again: after some fans ripped open cloth barriers, solid barriers have been put up all around the circuit, including pedestrian bridges.
While most races take place during the day, the Las Vegas race is at night. Given it’s November, and in the desert, it has traditionally been the coldest race on the schedule with lows in the 40⁰s Fahrenheit range with some wind. While it may be warm during the day, dress for the cold.
How Do Different Ticket Types and Seating Options Affect the Experience?
If you’re considering going to a Formula 1 grand prix, there are several options.
To start, there may be no better time to attend the Las Vegas race. When the race first hit the schedule in 2023, hotels jacked prices up. Two years later, with tourism down 11% in Sin City, adjustments have significantly favored fans. For example, Hilton Grand Vacations Elara, which sits on the back straight just before the start/finish line, offers a $3,200 package that includes accommodations for the three-day race weekend and access to their luxury suite, where food and drink are included. That deal is so popular that HGV informs that all 1,600 rooms are sold out. For anyone thinking of making a last-minute trip, today, the day before the race, you can get a room at Flamingo tonight for $8 ($57 with resort fees) and get a General Admission ticket to the Las Vegas Grand Prix today for $36.
Through the Formula 1 site, fans can get access to premium hospitality starting at $722.29, with top luxury in the Grand Prix Plaza Zone for $3,300 (before taxes and fees), Skybox suites at the start/finish line start at $2,630 (Inclusive of taxes & fees)
Grandstands surround all the circuits. Know that there are no places where you can watch the entirety of live action from your seat. Options vary, but in nearly all cases, grandstands are around key sections.
For the Las Vegas Grand Prix, there are a total of six grandstand options ranging from main grandstands at the start/finish, to the T-Mobile section by the Sphere, the Hello Kitty section, and more. At the top of the pricing, the main straight grandstand tickets for the three days of practice, qualifying, and the race start can range from $2,250 closest to the track to $580, ahead of fees. Other areas, such as Turn 17 called the “Lewis Hamilton Vegas Package” start at $285 without taxes and fees.
What Fan Zones, Merchandise, and Activities are Available at Each Race?
F1 Arcade Las Vegas.
F1 Arcade
For all races, there are fan zones and merchandise sprinkled around the circuit. Formula 1 has an entire ecosystem built out for fans.
One big piece that Formula 1 is heavily investing in is called F1 Arcade. It’s also a way for fans to attend watch parties instead of getting an actual ticket to the race.
The F1 Arcade Las Vegas is, well… very “Vegas”. The newly opened 21,000-square-foot entertainment and hospitality destination combines the thrill of Formula 1 with world-class food and cocktails. At all watch parties, guests can catch the action live on the venue’s large TV screens. There are DJs and hosts throughout the experience, along with quizzes, competitions, and the chance to win prizes. One of the top draws of F1 Arcade includes racing simulators. For the Las Vegas race, F1 Arcade is offering unlimited sim racing across the venue’s 87 full-motion simulators one hour before each race and throughout the watch parties and after party lets attendees take on the track themselves.
F1 Arcade will offer a limited number of Grandstand tickets for the Las Vegas Watch Party on Saturday, Nov. 22 for $295, plus tax and fees.
Sprinkled all around an F1 circuit, pop-up merchandise trucks and walk-in stores are available. Formula 1 sees an exceptional amount of merch for the brand itself, but also for teams and drivers. Expect to see hoodies, tee-shirts, jackets, hats, diecast models, and much more. Most all products that one sees at a race event are also available online via Formula 1.
How Can Fans Plan Travel and Accommodations Efficiently?
If you’re planning on attending an event, it’s wise to book travel as early as possible. Airfare increases the closer you get to an event. Rooms and tickets can sell out, but as noted, if you want to gamble, deals can be found.
Formula 1 hosts races on street courses and permanent tracks. For the latter, most all outside main urban areas due to noise. That means that a rental car or Uber is in order. So, budget for that accordingly.
Which Grand Prix Events Are The Most Memorable?
Charles Leclerc drives during the first practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)
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Race experience comes in a few forms and each is subjective to the fan. The most fan-friendly races may be about a rabid fanbase, in which case races in Mexico, Sao Paulo, Monza, Imola, and the Red Bull Ring in Austria may be to your liking.
But there are some circuits that are iconic. While expensive to attend, Monaco is maybe Formula 1’s most iconic. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, or Spa for short, in Belgium, with its Raidillon de l’Eau Rouge set of corners, is another.
In the U.S., the Circuit Of The Americas (COTA), is turning into a key destination for fans. While official numbers have not been released, this year’s event was sold out, and may have come close to 430,000 in attendance. Weekend attendance in recent years has consistently been over 430,000, with a record of 440,000 in 2022.
If glitz is your thing, certainly the Las Vegas Grand Prix is memorable. Many can’t get to Monaco, and Sin City may be the next-best thing. Beyond the race, entertainment abounds on race weekend, as well as casino action.